“Once hailed as "the fairest jewel in the crown of the Tsars," the Trans-Siberian Railway remains one of the life's great travel experiences. Spanning seven time zones and some of Russia's most geographically challenging, yet resource rich and scenically splendid regions the railroad represents a triumph of man over nature practically on par with putting man on the moon. Yet unlike that pie-in-the-sky journey, together with its Trans-Mongolian and Trans-Manchurian tributaries into neighbouring China and Mongolia, travelling the Trans-Siberian is achievable by anyone with some time, a little money and a sense of adventure.”

                    Introduction to Lonely Planet’s Trans-Siberian Railway Edition 3